Barwin's homelessness initiatives hit snags

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 5:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 5:15 p.m.

SARASOTA - City Manager Tom Barwin wanted to move quickly to help the homeless and stop the cases of police insensitivity that marked his first few months on the job. But addressing the problem has been complicated, with Barwin hitting obstacles ranging from wary elected officials to potential snags with Florida's open government rules.

Barwin announced a plan late last year for a new City-County Homeless Advisory Task Force to meet over 90 days to come up with solutions for helping homeless people with substance abuse and mental health issues. He said he wanted to move quickly, and convened the group to “roll up your sleeves and work, work, work.”

But he now characterizes the group less formally, last week calling its effort an “evolving working conversation.”

The group includes Barwin and representatives from the city police, Coastal Behavioral, First Step, Salvation Army, Sarasota County, the Sheriff's Office, SunCoast Partnership to End Homelessness and Resurrection House, according to Deputy Sarasota County Administrator Bill Little.

Barwin said the group has met three or four times, and he is frequently inviting new people with expertise in different areas to join. Bryan Pope of the Salvation Army, who said he has been to four meetings with the group, called it a “constantly changing cast of characters.”

Several other members said they have been to at least three group meetings.

The meetings were not publicly advertised, and minutes were not recorded, raising questions about whether it complies with Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine law, promoting public access to government meetings and decision-making.

City Attorney Robert Fournier said the group entered questionable legal terrain.

“Anytime you have a reoccurring group, people are going to question whether a committee had been formed,” Fournier said.

If members of a committee are not just presenting facts but are also making recommendations, the group should be subject to the Sunshine Law, according to the legal manual given to Sarasota staff.

Fournier said he asked Barwin twice if he had convened a task force. Both times, Barwin said he was merely “talking to various service providers,” according to Fournier.

“It's really just a sharing of information,” Barwin said of the group. He said he does not think the group has reached a level where it needs to be publicly advertised.

“I just don't think any of us thought we were at the point of violating anything. We were just thinking of ways to solve the problem,” Little said.

Fournier said said he needs to learn more about the group, but advised it would probably be best to announce future meetings. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, police Capt. Paul Sutton said.

“It just seems like we've just kind of gone into a grey area. In that case, it's better to just form a formal committee and call it what it is,” Fournier said.

At the meetings, experts said they told Barwin there was a lack of caseworkers who could connect people on the streets with mental health and substance abuse resources. The city manager used their expertise to create a business plan, which proposed hiring three caseworkers — two part-time and one full-time. He presented the plan to city and county commissioners this week.

Barwin estimated the salary, benefits and equipment for the positions would cost $150,000. His department and Police Chief Bernadette DiPino would oversee the new hires. DiPino, who took over the police department at the end of December, supported the caseworkers idea and suggested a similar plan before she even began.

But county commissioners were cautious about funding the plan and questioned why social work agencies couldn't do it instead — a concern City Commissioner Shannon Snyder, a former sheriff's deputy, said he shared.

But Barwin said the idea is proceeding. Last Wednesday, he learned someone anonymously donated $60,000 to fund the caseworkers through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. If the city and county can come up with $40,000, the donor offered to give another $40,000.

Mayor Suzanne Atwell, who is running for re-election, discussed the donation at an event for commission candidates this week. She said she supports the caseworker idea.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - City Manager Tom Barwin wanted to move quickly to help the homeless and stop the cases of police insensitivity that marked his first few months on the job. But addressing the problem has been complicated, with Barwin hitting obstacles ranging from wary elected officials to potential snags with Florida's open government rules.</p><p>Barwin announced a plan late last year for a new City-County Homeless Advisory Task Force to meet over 90 days to come up with solutions for helping homeless people with substance abuse and mental health issues. He said he wanted to move quickly, and convened the group to “roll up your sleeves and work, work, work.”</p><p>But he now characterizes the group less formally, last week calling its effort an “evolving working conversation.” </p><p>The group includes Barwin and representatives from the city police, Coastal Behavioral, First Step, Salvation Army, Sarasota County, the Sheriff's Office, SunCoast Partnership to End Homelessness and Resurrection House, according to Deputy Sarasota County Administrator Bill Little.</p><p>Barwin said the group has met three or four times, and he is frequently inviting new people with expertise in different areas to join. Bryan Pope of the Salvation Army, who said he has been to four meetings with the group, called it a “constantly changing cast of characters.”</p><p>Several other members said they have been to at least three group meetings.</p><p>The meetings were not publicly advertised, and minutes were not recorded, raising questions about whether it complies with Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine law, promoting public access to government meetings and decision-making.</p><p>City Attorney Robert Fournier said the group entered questionable legal terrain.</p><p>“Anytime you have a reoccurring group, people are going to question whether a committee had been formed,” Fournier said. </p><p>If members of a committee are not just presenting facts but are also making recommendations, the group should be subject to the Sunshine Law, according to the legal manual given to Sarasota staff. </p><p>Fournier said he asked Barwin twice if he had convened a task force. Both times, Barwin said he was merely “talking to various service providers,” according to Fournier.</p><p>“It's really just a sharing of information,” Barwin said of the group. He said he does not think the group has reached a level where it needs to be publicly advertised. </p><p>“I just don't think any of us thought we were at the point of violating anything. We were just thinking of ways to solve the problem,” Little said.</p><p>Fournier said said he needs to learn more about the group, but advised it would probably be best to announce future meetings. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, police Capt. Paul Sutton said.</p><p>“It just seems like we've just kind of gone into a grey area. In that case, it's better to just form a formal committee and call it what it is,” Fournier said.</p><p>At the meetings, experts said they told Barwin there was a lack of caseworkers who could connect people on the streets with mental health and substance abuse resources. The city manager used their expertise to create a business plan, which proposed hiring three caseworkers — two part-time and one full-time. He presented the plan to city and county commissioners this week. </p><p>Barwin estimated the salary, benefits and equipment for the positions would cost $150,000. His department and Police Chief Bernadette DiPino would oversee the new hires. DiPino, who took over the police department at the end of December, supported the caseworkers idea and suggested a similar plan before she even began. </p><p>But county commissioners were cautious about funding the plan and questioned why social work agencies couldn't do it instead — a concern City Commissioner Shannon Snyder, a former sheriff's deputy, said he shared. </p><p>But Barwin said the idea is proceeding. Last Wednesday, he learned someone anonymously donated $60,000 to fund the caseworkers through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. If the city and county can come up with $40,000, the donor offered to give another $40,000. </p><p>Mayor Suzanne Atwell, who is running for re-election, discussed the donation at an event for commission candidates this week. She said she supports the caseworker idea.</p>